Surgical splint



Mwah 23 1926. 1,577,782

.5. R. ATmNsoN SURGICAL SPLINT Filed Feb. 14, 1925 James /hon.

Patented Mar. 23, 1925.

i UNHTE STTS FMC

SURGICAL SPLINT.

Application filed February 14, 1923. Serial No. 618,981.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns R. ATKINSON, citizen of the Dominion fCana-da, residing at Vancouver, in the VProvince of British Columbia,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SurgicalSplints, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a splint for a fractured lower limb and isdesigned to provide such support for the limb that the fracture-d endsmay be drawn apart and readily adjusted, duringwhich adjustment freeaccess is affordedto the location of the fracture.

Then both bones of the lower legare fractured and possibly obliquely,the broken ends will, under the tension of the'inuscles, tend to overlapone another, and difficulty is experienced in applying the requiredtension to bring the fractured ends into their correct relative positionwithout imposing an undesired and objectionable tension on the kneejoint, or, when support is afforded from the crotch, without anexceedingly uncom# fortable and painful pressure applied on this part,which is not adapte-d to receive such. vThere is the furtherdisadvantage inboth cases that the leg must be maintained straight atthe knee joint. n

In the device, which is the subject of this application, the requiredresistance for the tension applied to draw the fractured ends of abroken leg to their proper position in relation to oii-e another isimposed on the underside or back of the thigh adjacent the knee oint,the aXis of the thigh being angled to that of the leg to provide asuitable resistance.

The splint frame by which the tension is imposed on the leg and theresistance of that tension distributed, is so designed as to afford freeaccess to the leg at the location of the fracture for an X-rayinspection of it, and for manipulation and bandaging the fracture or forattending to any flesh wound on the leg in the vicinity of the fracture.

The invention is particularly d-escribed in the following specification,reference be-4 ing made to the drawings by which it is Vaccompanied, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the splint showing vits application to theleg of a patient. V

Fig. 2 is a. plan of the splint.

Fig. 3, an end elevation looking in the direction of the narrow 3 inFig. l;

Fig. 4, a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 isapperspective view of the below* the-knee leg band.V

1n these `drawings 2, 3, 4 represent an open rectangular frame composedof longitudinale 2 connected by a cross member 8,

and having upwardly turned ends 4. Each upwardly turned. end 4 isstrengthened by acorner brace 5 and between these corner braces one endof the thigh attaching meinber 7 is pivotally mounted at G. rFhe member7 is shaped to fit against the underside or back of the thigh adjacentthe knee, where it is secured by a bandage 8 orV other suitable means.meinber 7 a stay rod 9 extends to the cross portion 3 at the outer endof the rectangular frame. The rod 9 is pin-connected to 7 and 3 'and isprovided with a turn-buckle 10 by which it may be lengthened andshortened to vary the inclination of the member 7 in relation to thelongitudinals 2 of the rectangular frame.

The provision, through which tension isk directly appli-ed to the leg todraw the fractured ends intoY position, is carried from'this frame 2, 3,4, 7, 9. It consists of two side rods 11, to one end of each of which iswelded or otherwise secured a attenedportion 12 which is inwardly bentat right angles as at 13 to overlap one another.

These overlapping portions 13 are secured together and adjusted in theirdistance apart by bolts 14 extending across between them. The other endof each ro-d 11 is threaded and provided with nuts 15 by which theyaresecured in one of a seri-es of apertures 16 in the upwardly turned ends4 of the rectangular frame.

The outer ends of these side rods are supported substantially parallelto the sides 2 of the rectangular frame by uprights 17 adj ustably'secured to the members 2 and having at the upper ends inwardly turnedloops 18, in which the rods 11 freely rest.

Between the stirrup-like connected ends 12, 13 of the side rods 11, alaced ankle band 2O is connected by a buckled strap 21, which passesthrough apertures provided for it in the inwardly bent ends 13. Betweenthe other ends of the rods 11 which are connected to the upwardly turnedends 4, a

From the other end `of vthisV laced leg band 22, adapted to tit thefractured leg immediately below the knee, is connected to each upwardlyturned end l by a buckled strap 23 on each side.

Between the side rods ll intermediate the leg band 22 anct ankle band20, a web 25 of bandage or other suitable tabric is passed, which fabricis adapted to support the leg during and after setting.

ln use, the member 7 is, as shown in Fig. l, firmly bandaged to thelower part ot the thigh with the trame 2, 3, d, 9 and uprights l?connected to it. rilhe ankle Aband 2O and leg band 22 are laced upon thelimb, and the side rods ll connected together at their inwardly turnedends i3 are passed through the loops 18 ot the uprights l?, and whilethe leg band 22 is connected by the straps 23 to the upwardly turnedends fr, the ankle band is connected by the strap 2l to the inwardlybent ends i8 ot the side rods. 1While the intermediate portion ot' theleg, in which is the fracture, is resting in the web 25, the nuts l5 aretiglitend to lengthen the side rods ll and entend the fractured limb tobring the broken ends into the required relationship, during'whichadjustment the position oi' the fracture is fully eip sed and accessiblefor inspection and manipulation.

After setting the splintered leg may be comfortably supported from thebed or sus.- pended trom a bed crane.

It will be noted that the angle at which the axis ot the leg is held inrelation to that ot the thigh, may be adjusted by the tarnbuckle l0V toenable the thigh to afford the required resistance to the tension or"the splint.

Attention is also drawn to the tact that although the trame 2, 3, 4; ispivotallv connected at 6 to the thigh member 7, that pivotal connectionis only during angular adjustment between the Jframe and thigh meirber.After such adjustment is made the 'trame and thigh member are relativelyperinanently fixed as one piece.

Also that the leg band 22 is only designed to relieve the knee joint otthe tensile strain -that would otherwise be imposed on it and totransmit that strain through the straps 23 to the inwardly turned ends lof the :trame through which it is transmitted to the thigh member 7.

The splint is not only an exceedingly convenient one for the operatingsurgeon, as if Oilers ample facilities 'llor inspection and manipulationof the fractured limb; but it is also an exceedingly comfortable one forthe patient. As the splint tirmly attaches the injured leg to the thigh,and to no other part, the patient has freedom of movement and can assumethe position that is most comfortable.

Such parts of the splint as are directly connected to the limb areadjustable that it 1st/mee may be adaptable to variation in the size oithe limb it may be required to be used on.

Having now particularly described my invention, l here declare that whatl claim as new and desire to be protected. in by Letters Patent, is:

l. A leg splint comprising a rod extending along each side of the legfrom adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod being inwardlyturned beyond the foot and connected to the other, a trame, said trameincludingl a portion projecting from4 it on each side oi the knee jointto receive the ends of the side rods, means for eiliecting separateadjustment ot the length of each side rod, means pivotally mounting saidframe removably to the lower part ot the thigh adjacent the knee, meanson said trame for supporting said rods adjacent the loot and means torholding said trame adjustably in position.

2. A leg splint comprising aY trame having rip-standing portions adaptedto project to each side of the knee joint, roes adjustably secured; insaid projecting portions to lie along each side ot' the leg troniadjacent the linee joint to l eyond the toot,'means securing the endsoit said rods to the limb adjacent the toet, means for sustaining saidrods above said trame adjacent the toot, a thigh attaching memberadapted to be secured on the thigh part ot the limb adjacent the knee,means pivotally mounting said iframe on said thigh attaching member andan adjustable stay rod secured to said thigh member and to said tramefor varying its positiony with relation to said thigh attaching member,substantially as shown and described. Y

3. A leg splint, comprising a rod extending along each side ot the legfrom adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod being inwardlyturned beyond the toot and connected to the other, a member adapted forattachment to the lower part of the thigh adjacent the knee, said memberhaving attachments to it which project one on each side of the kneejoint to which projections the side rods are adjustably con nected,means tor varying the angle of the projections from the thigh member,means for con ecting the lower part ot thefleg to the inwardly turnedends of the side rods,

vand means for varying the length otl the side rods from the projectingattachment from the thigh member tothe inwardly turned ends of the siderods. y

il. A leg splint, comprising a rod extending along each side oi the legYfrom adjacent the knee joint to beyond the toot, each rod beinginwardly turned beyond the foot and connected to the other, a memberadapted te be applied and secured to the inner side o1 back ot the lowerpariJ et the thigh adjacent the knee, a. member pivotally connected t0icoY one end of this thigh attachment and projecting angularly therefromon each side of the knee joint, said projecting members being aperturedto receive .the ends of the side rods, means for varying the angle ofthe projecting members in relation to the thigh attachment, means forconnecting the lower part of the leg to the inwardly turned ends of theside rods, and means for extending the side rods from the connection tothe projections from the thigh attachment.

5. A leg splint, comprising` a member adapted for attachment to thelower part of the back of the thigh, a member pivotally connected to theend of this thigh attachment, which member extends angula-rly npward oneach side of the knee joint and lengthwise to approximately the lengthof the leg, a tie rod pin-connected to the other end of the thigh memberand pin-connected to the outer end of the angular projection therefrom,side rods extending from the upward projections on each side of thekneev joint to beyond the foot where their ends are inwardly turned andconnected to one another, an ankle band connected to the inwardly turnedends of the .side rods, and means for varying the length of the siderods from the upwardly turned ends of the knee projection to theinwardly turned ends of the side rods.

6. A leg splint, comprising in combination a member adapted forattachment te the thigh adjacent the knee, a light base frame projectingangularly therefrom to approximately the length of the leg and vupwardlyy each rod, and means for Varying the height of the lower end of eachside rod in its distance from the base frame.

7. A leg splint, comprising a frame eX-` tending along each side of theleg from adjacent the knee joint to adjacent the foot, means foradjnstably connecting one end of this frame to the thigh, means forretaining the thigh connection at any desired angle in relation to theportions which extend along the leg, a rod extending along each side ofthe leg from the endof said frame adjacent the knee to adjacent thefoot, means for connecting one end of each rod to the foot, means forindependently adjusting the length of each rod, means for supporting theside rods adjacent the foot to the frame, and means for supporting theleg from the side rods.

In testimony whereof I afX mysignature.

JAMES R. ATKINSON.

